Sony arrives fashionably late to the video capture DSLR party with its new A560, the first DSLR in Sony's lineup that comes capable of recording impromptu moments in both AVCHD 1920x1080 60i or MP4 formats.

Sony said it equipped the A560 (and A580) with a new generation Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor processor, which together with the company's BIONZ imaging processor supports high-speed continuous shooting and a range of digital image compositing and processing functions.

Both cameras can freeze photos at up to 7fps in Speed Priority Continuous Advanced mode, and both come with a newly developed 15-point phase-detection autofocus system that purportedly keeps moving subjects in focus.

Other features include an articulating 3-inch LCD, 16.2 megapixels (A580) or 14.2 megapixels (A560), 3D Sweep Panorama, auto HDR, and up to ISO 25,600.

The A580 will ship in October for $749 (body only) and $850 (kit lens), while the A560 will arrive in the first quarter of 2011 for $100 less.

Shout it with us: No more wires! That's the idea behind Samsung's PL90, the company's latest point-n-shoot camera with a built-in USB connector. No more fumbling around your bag for that USB cable, just flip open the connector and jam the digicam right into a free USB port.

"We want consumers to enjoy the entire photographic experience through the PL90, with the ability to capture, connect, and share pictures instantly and even charge on the move," said Sangjin Park, President of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. "In this fast paced world, we understand that our customers need to have these capabilities at their fingertips, and the PL90 puts this power in their hands. The PL90 is further evidence of the continued innovation behind Samsung cameras."

It's generally true that you get what you pay for, but when it comes to DSLRs, you no longer have to pay through the nose to graduate out of point-n-shoot territory. Take Sony, for example, which has gone and released a pair of entry-level DSLR cameras, the DSLR-A290 and DSLR-A390.

Priced at $500 (A290) and $600 (A390), you're not going to find a ton of high-end features like you would if you spent over $1,000 on a DSLR, but that doesn't mean these are merely glorified point-n-shoots. Both cameras sport the same 14.2 megapixel CCD sensor, while the A390 adds Sony's quick AF live view function in combination with a 2.7-inch tilting LCD. Both also share ISO sensitivity up to 3200, 9-point autofucos, sensor shake system, static-free anti-dust coating, a USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI mini-connector.

There aren't a ton of differences between the two modes. Other than what was already mentioned, the A390 offers a slightly better viewfinder magnification and is ever-so-slightly larger and heavier.

FujiFilm's Z700EXR digital camera was first announced about a month ago, but one feature that has been overlooked is its animal face recognition. Looking to give the feature its due, FujiFilm has been demonstrating the camera's canine (and feline) facial recognition at this week's Camera and Photo Image Show in Yokohama, Japan.

FujiFilm used stuffed toy dogs and cats to show off the camera's capabilities, which works just like face detection for humans. It can detect up to 10 faces of dogs or cats and automatically optimize the focus, but as it turns out, recognizing the real deal is a bit harder than stuffed animals. With that in mind, FujiFilm has put together a list of cat and dog breeds that are easier to identify than others.

There are other pitfalls, primarily "dogs or cats that are constantly in motion cannot be recognized." But the technology also gets confuzzled with dark coats, large patches of fur around the eyes, or a wrinkly nose.

Still, if you're a pet owner intent on filling up your Flickr account with pictures of Fido, the $280 FijiFilm Z700EXR might be the best game in town.

Pining away for a medium format DSLR camera but can't bring yourself to drop 20 large for Mamiya's DM40? Maybe Pentax has your number, who just introduced its 645D camera for the comparatively bargain-bin price of $9,400.

It's the company's first medium format DSLR, which comes with a high-performance CCD image sensor produced by Kodak. The sensor measures 44mm by 33mm and boasts 40MP shots.

It takes a true passion for photography and a deep wallet to plunk down $20,000 for a digital camera, and if you have both, Mamiya will happily oblige with its newly announced DM40 medium format DSLR camera

As evidenced by the price tag ($19,990 for the digital back, or $21,990 for the camera and 80mm f/2.8 lens), the DM40 fits into Mamiya's lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. What you get in return is a 40 megapixel camera capable of shooting 60 frames per minutes (yes, minute), which makes it the fastest in this class of sensor.

If you're familiar with commercial jingles, then you've heard Timex boast it can take a licking and keep on ticking. Well, Pentax just released a new digital camera that can take abusing and keep on shooting.

We're talking about the rugged Optio W90, a 12.1 megapixel digicam Pentax claims can withstand up to 20 feet of water, is shockproof up to 4 feet, and has no trouble with sub-freezing temperatures. When you're not abusing the W90, you can preview pics on its 2.7-inch LCD with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, capture movies in 720p HD at 30fps, and hook it up to living room display with its HDMI output.

Pentax also announced a more traditional Optio X90. This too comes with a 12.1MP sensor, as well as a 2.7-inch LCD with an anti-reflection coating, Triple Shake Reduction technology, high speed continuous shooting up to 11fps, and a 26X megazoom, super-telephoto lens (26-676mm equivalent).

Both the W90 and X90 will be available in April for $330 and $400, respectively.

It used to be that if you wanted to run with the big dogs in photography, you needed a DSLR. And while some would argue that's still the case, point-and-shoot cameras continue to blur the line between the two market segments. Enter Samsung's new TL350, a 10 megapixel point-and-shoot with a few tricks up its sleeve.

Samsung's latest entry to the point-and-shoot market comes with a 24mm ultra wide-angle Schneider Keuznach lens, five levels of optical zoom, and a 3-inch AMOLED display. Budding photographers benefit from both smart and manual controls, but that's not all.

Video buffs will appreciate the TL350's ability to capture 1080p HD video. And with Samsung's Dual Capture Mode, users can shoot videos and stills at the same time.

Of course, we need to see its performance before making any kind of judgment, but as far as spec sheets go, Samsung's off to a good start, and a decent price point. This one will carry an MSRP of $350 when it ships this Spring.

It was bound to happen--digital cameras would be redesigned as digital devices, rather than optical devices with digital components press-ganged into service. The new Micro Four Thirds standard, created by Olympus and Kodak does just that for digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLR), not only blurring the feature line between point-and-shoots and DSLRs, but also allowing for interchangeable ‘smart’ lenses. Pretty neat.

And Olympus’s new PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera, promised for March, is now available to eager adopters. The PEN E-PL1 has a 12.3 megapixel high speed MOS sensor, with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the TruePic V Image processor. It saves images in JPEG and RAW (12-bit lossless compression) formats, in images up to 4032 x 3024 pixels. It can record video in 1280 x 720 HD, and 640 x 480 SD (with file size limited to 2GB). Images are stored to an SD or SDHC card.

Other features include high speed auto focus, image stabilization, shutter speeds from 2 to 1/2000 second (and a bulb option). The LCD is 2.7-inches and 230,000 pixels. (No optical viewfinder.) Flash is built-in. There’s also a full complement of auto features, and for the serious amateur manual control.

Amazon says it has the slate blue and champagne gold versions in stock. If you want the black it looks like you’ll have to wait. Price is $599.99, which includes a 14-42mm f/3.5-4.6 Zuiko digital zoom lens.

Casio first showed off its GPS-equipped EX-10HG digital camera during CES earlier this year, at which point it was considered a prototype that may or may not ever make it to market. No longer a prototype, Casio again had its upcoming digicam on display, this time at the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show.

According to Casio, the EX-10HG will be available starting in October of this year and carry a price tag of "around $400." In exchange for 4 C-notes, buyers get a 12.1MP camera capable of geotagging photos, but that's not all. The built-in GPS also serves as a full-fledged navigation system powered by Google Maps.

There's not a whole lot of other details to go on, but based on what Casio said earlier this year, there's a good chance the final version will ship with a touchscreen LCD and SD card slot.